PEOPLE will be given a glimpse of the Vale Wildlife Rescue Centre hospital for the first time in its 20-year history at an Open Day this month.

The centre received its first casualty, a tawny owl, in June 1984 and is now one of the largest wildlife centres in the country, receiving 5,000 casualties a year.

Sixty per cent are birds, chiefly pigeons and doves, together with nearly 1,000 hedgehogs, which are all nursed back to health and then released into the wild.

"Visitors are not normally allowed into the hospital, because the whole idea is to get these birds and mammals back into the wild, where they belong," said founder Caroline Gould, who manages the centre at Beckford, near Evesham.

"This is the one and only chance to see inside the hospital, besides seeing the pens and aviaries outside.

"It will be interesting for people, because there is so much going on."

Spring is the centre's busiest time of year, with up to 500 young birds and mammals at a time, including 40 or more different species.

"The majority are just-fledged birds that have been caught by a cat," said Ms Gould.

"Others have been picked up by people believing them to be orphaned, when they should really have been left alone."

The centre relies on public support to raise around £9,000 every month to continue its work, part of which involves education.

Far from being about cuddling furry animals, wildlife rescue is strictly "hands off", apart from the necessity of hand-feeding babies.

"Volunteers have to get out of the habit of talking to the animals, because it is very stressful for an adult wild bird or mammal.

"A sparrow hawk can die of stress if you hold it in your hands," said Caroline.

Besides touring the hospital, visitors to the open day on Sunday, June 13, will be able to see slide shows and enjoy all the fun of a fte, with entertainers, a fun dog show, stalls, crafts and a tombola.

Admission is £1.50 (Senior citizens and under 14s, £1).